In Malaysia, a classroom consists of different pupils of a different ethnic background and

social setting. A multicultural setting is a common scene prevalent in ESL classroom.

Managing a classroom is challenging because, definitions and expectations of appropriate
behaviour are culturally influenced, and conflicts are likely to occur when teachers and pupils
come from different cultural backgrounds (Weinstein, Tomlinson-Clarke, and Curran, 2004)

In rural Malaysian schools setting, students have a very limited understanding of the English
language. These students does not speak even a single English word at home leaving them
with poor understanding and meanings of simple English words and phrases. This can be
difficult for teachers to teach let alone communicate with them. School plays a pivotal role in
enhancing learning wheres the students lack of resources at home in learning English.
Learning a second language and to sustain interest in language learning, especially for rural
students where their social environment do not give much support for second language
acquisition , depend very much to their language teachers. Engagement in school is an
important academic outcome in its own right and it serve as an important social signal
whether students were motivated or disaffected over time.

Based on his theory, an ESL Teachers in a rural primary school should create caring
relationships with students and use genuine, empathetic responses to their concerns. Effective
communication that alleviates class behavior difficulties begins with initiating conversations
with students privately rather than in front of peers.

I suggest these theories because it identifies common student actions that take away from the
effectiveness of instruction and gives teachers strategies against various setback in a rural
primary school particularly in ESL classroom. To combat these negative factors I think the
most important part is to continually find ways to engage students in the lesson. It is vital to
never give them an opportunity to take their attention away from the content being presented
and this can be accomplish with interesting student tasks and how to emphasizes teachers not
using fighting words or behaviors when a student acts out. Nevertheless, teachers can
exercise more patience in teaching ESL and try to find the right ways to help to their students
become more proficient in the language.
1.0

Introduction

Managing a good classroom and discipline, there are some aspects that need to be
emphasized and focuses to promote good learning environment which are important
throughout the learning process. The teachers roles, the students roles and the classroom
management itself are some of the aspects that teacher should practice in order to make his
or her lesson success. Teacher should practice a good classroom management to achieve a
conducive learning environment for teaching and learning activities to take place. The
ultimate goal of classroom management should not be on simple obedience, but on having
students behave appropriately because they know its right thing to do and because they can
understand how their actions affect other people(Hardin, 2008, p. 142 ). Based on the quote
above, it can be seen clearly that a good classroom management will not only maintain the
classroom environment for teaching and learning to occur but also effects the students
behaviours as an individual in the teaching and learning process.

2.0

Classroom Observation
I conducted and observation on classroom teaching session with my Ketua Panitia

for one of our Year 3 Englishteacher. The teaching session was conducted by Madam Nur
Ain Athirah who is teaching Year 3 Anggerik. I entered her Year 3 English lesson class for
my observation on the specific aspect of classroom management. She was teaching songs
and poems to her Year 3 pupils. For my observation, I used the Observation Form which
contained some of the aspects that I have chosen as above. The observation was mainly
about teachers roles, learners roles and the main thing, the classroom management.
During the observation, I just stress on how the teacher can play her or his major role
in creating the conducive teaching and learning process by implementing the aspects
chosen and also another 2 aspect stated above.From the first step she entered the class, I
just listened and looking around the class. For me, the beginning of the lesson sets the
mood of the pupils. In Malaysian context, from the beginning of the day routine, teacher will
enter the class and they greet the teacher. Teacher then asked the pupils to organize their
table and doing some warming up activity to get the pupils ready for the lesson. Then,
teacher continued her lesson with the topic listed on the board for the pupils to address in
their learning activities. I also observed on how teacher can give their explanation and
conduct her lesson according to the lesson that she had planned before. I also can see that
when the teacher wants to lower the noise volume, or simply get the attention of the class,
teacher was using some signal to get the pupils know they are expected to be quiet and
listen for the instruction given. And I saw that pupils were familiar with the signal and they
obey the teachers signal. It was an amazing view when I can see that pupils really had a

strong relationship between their English teacher. Mean that, the teacher can handle their
own pupils and she had a good management on classroom control. For the clear
explanation, I will discuss the 3 main aspects in the three main aspect below and I will relate
the aspect to the Classroom Management Theories that I have read before.

3.0

Teachers Roles Aspect

During the observation, the first thing I touched most is the teachers roles. The

teacher played good roles in her teacher and learningsession. The teacher know that she
play a major role in creating a good classroom management. Teacher was well-prepared
and well-versed on the topics taught. Teacher planned her lesson with appropriate
examples, suitable activities for her pupils and also well-organized group work done by her
pupils. This is because, one of the teachers roles is to help the learner to gain literacy.
Teacher teach the learners by facilitating the learners learning. For me, it is important for
teachers to be well-prepared so that they can deliver their lesson and achieve the lesson
objectives.

William Arthur Ward once said that The mediocre teacher tells. The good

teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires. This
clearly shows that teachers play a huge role in teaching the learners.
Besides, I can see that teacher always allow her pupils to try and offer their a
chance to give ideas and their opinion during the discussion. Teacher give the pupils
opportunities to learn. The pupils then learn how to enquire and discover new information
during the teaching and learning process. Teacher also involved her pupils by practicing the
oral drills among themselves. From the activity, pupils learn to communicate with their
teacher and also their own friends. I have read one of the theories that related with this
activity.
4.0

Pupils Roles Aspect

For the pupils roles, I have seen that pupils really co-operated with their teacher.

This good behaviour influenced the teachers lesson. For me , in managing a classroom for
teaching and learning process, it is not merely the teachers roles but also the learners
roles. Pupils in Year 3 Anggerik acted according to the teacher expectations. May be, they
saw me at the back of the classroom and observing their English teacher, so they act like an
angle. That is what I thought honestly. Only some of the pupils not focusing on the lesson
by putting his head on his table and one of the girl who acts as a passive passenger during
group work activity took place. These situation might disturb the teachers lesson and

teacher should consider this for another lesson. So that, all the pupils will realize the
importance of paying attention and being responsible towards their acts even though there
are still 9 years old.
The student-centered activity also influenced the success of the lesson. During the
observation, majority of the pupils involved in the activity planned by the teachers. I have
asked the teacher about the participating of the pupils in the group work activity or other
student-centered activity. Teacher said that for her class, she had no problem on conducting
the group work activity because majority of the pupils really involved in the activity and for
the passive pupils, they are encourage to share their ideas with their friends. They might
ashamed with the teachers, so let them talk with their friends and get involved in the activity.
For me, the student-centered activity helps to improve learners social skill, communication
skill and also improves their language skill. This is because those pupils are actively involved
in the teaching and learning process while the teachers act as facilitators. Thus, pupils
should be involving themselves actively by giving opinions, solving the tasks given by
teachers either individuals or in groups. Student-centered activity helps to improve learners
social skill by exchanging ideas and opinions in solving the tasks given regardless of their
races and views differences. This is really effective in Malaysian Education where weare
living in difference races, ethnic and customs. So, they need to know how to communicate in
the multi-racial environment.

5.0

Classroom Management Aspect

Classroom management involves both physical and social emotional aspects. Both

aspects are important to promote a good classroom for a lesson to take palce. For the
observation, I focused on one main criteria, the seating arrangements of the classroom.
Based on the observation made, I can see that the tables and chairs of the pupils were being
arranged in clustered arrangement. This shows that most of the lessons were focusing on
group activities. The seating arrangements in the classroom should be arrange in good order
in order to help the teachers and the learners to move freely in the classroom during the
teaching and learning process.
Besides, the lighting of the classroom also good. The ventilation and the basic
facilities in the classroom also in good condition and well-manage. For me, it is important to
have a good classroom physical setting to promote a sense of belonging towards the
learners by fulfilling all the learners needs. Other basic physical aspects of the classroom
are the classroom rules and routines as well as the emergency plan of pupils at the

beginning of the year and I saw that it was pasted on the notice board in front of the
classroom. Hence, it promotes a democratic teaching environment as well as highlights the
expectations for the class. Another thing, I can see that pupils are sitting in a group and
mixed with difference races. The classroom also decorated with full of motivational teaching
aids which can instill good moral values for the pupils.